OLD PHOTOGRAPHS, STORIES AND LIFE

Between “tear breaks” I looked through old pictures; pictures of an 18-year old couple beginning a life together, full of hopes and dreams, yet to be realized.  There were snapshots of 2 kids holding a newborn baby and then 17 months later another baby appears in the scene.  Among the old photos are those of loved ones that we miss so much and long to hold once more.  Jump to 2013 and there is that newborn baby, all grown up, standing proudly with his wife and 3 beautiful children and the other baby with his wife and 4 beautiful children.  When did life happen and where did time go?  I had aspirations and dreams and plans and goals; I want a do over!!!

There is an old country song with the lyrics, “I’d like to be 16 again and know what I know now!”  Have you ever felt that way?  I certainly have!  If I could only go back to 18 years old and Steve and I could start our life all over.  Oh the things I would do differently.  We would certainly be rich because I would have sunk our entire fortune into Microsoft and Wal-Mart, and then sold it all at just the right time.  There are places we would not have moved to and houses we would not have moved from.  I would have saved more, bought less and cut up the credit cards.  More time would have been spent just talking and laughing with those who have reached the finish line first.  I would have sat on the floor and played more, not caring about all the tasks I thought were priorities.  I would have worried less and trusted more because now I know of God’s faithfulness.  I WANT A DO OVER!

As I continue to reminiscence, God takes me on a journey down memory lane.  That life that seems to have just slipped past was really busy and full and He was using every moment to make me into the person He had planned.  That first little house, with the toilet falling through the floor was teaching me to be thankful for every blessing so I would appreciate the brand new house 35 years later.  Balancing the checkbook until payday and returning pop cans for lunch money taught me thrift, the value of coupons, cooking meals instead of fast food, using cloth diapers when everyone else had disposable, helped me learn to be content for future times when the checkbook would balance itself.  I learned that God is truly our provider and will use any means to bless us, even if it means blowing something off of a roof and denting a car, giving us an insurance check to pay a bill.  God was there gently instructing me as I sat in the dark night praying and holding a little boy who’s nose wouldn’t stop bleeding; He is our healer.  Through every storm, I learned that He is the “Master of the Wind,” and only God can speak peace to my situation.

Back to my box of photographs; each one telling another piece of my life’s story.  How many of the precious memories would simply disappear if I was granted a do over?  What if I had always done the “sensible” thing for the moment?  I might have had a great career with loads of money, a grand home and luxury car in the garage but I would have missed those chubby little arms tight around my neck.  We may not have moved to Michigan, Minnesota and Tennessee and I would have avoided the struggles, the loneliness and the heartache and the people we ministered to, the friendships and the adventures.  We could have traveled the world but missed out on Saturday trips to the beach, making a snowman in the front yard and playing Yahtzee at the dining room table.

Suddenly the “Do over” isn’t quite so inviting and this story of my life with all its many pieces is really quite wonderful.  You don’t need a “Do over.”  Allow God to take the scattered pieces, even the ones you don’t think can possibly fit and put the puzzle of your life together.  That event you would change creates a splash of color in the completed picture.  The edge pieces are seemingly unimportant to the overall theme but without them the puzzle remains unfinished.   Your personal puzzle is not quite finished but if you take a moment and look through God’s eyes you will see that life really is quite a wonderful journey.

DECORATED WITH LOVE

I will admit something that all my friends already know; I am ARTISTICALLY-CHALLENGED.   I see a beautiful picture in a magazine and even with all the ingredients, my living room still somehow ends up looking “lived in” instead of elegant.  I have friends that make quilts, decorate cakes, fashion beautiful bows for their granddaughters, live in beautifully “put-together” homes, and decorate elegant, award-winning Christmas trees.  Me?  I even mess up the helpful hints and finally just settle for “good enough.”

Being “artistically-challenged,” is not something that developed over time; Oh no!  I was born with this “handicap.”  In school, I dreaded art almost as much as I dreaded tumbling in gym class.  Let me do arithmetic, social studies or even practice handwriting but, puhleeze don’t make me draw or paint, model clay or do paper mache.  I have many art horror stories, but this one in particular belongs to the Christmas season.

 My second grade teacher, Mrs. Johnson, had the bright idea that the class would make beautiful ornaments to take home.  First we had to draw a shape of something on cardboard, cut it out, take heavy glue-dipped string, outline the shape, and finally paint it with tempera paint.  I drew a star (probably because anyone can draw a star), painstakingly applied the string and painted it a bright yellow.  It was the most horrible, lopsided, ugliest star ever made and what did my mom do when she found it among my things?  Laugh out loud?  Throw it in the trash when I wasn’t looking?  Console me with, “at least you tried?”  No way!!!  That star was given a prominent place on the Christmas tree, that year and for 49 years since (yep, my mom kept it and still brings it out every Christmas.)

Back to the beautiful, professional-looking, magazine-worthy Christmas trees my friends all post on Facebook…I really tried this year.  I could see it in my mind; the lights twinkled, ribbons swirled and streamed from the top, the color-coordinated ornaments were perfectly placed and this year, my tree would receive all the oohs and ahhs.  Then I opened my ornaments and the memories came flooding over me.  Some are hand-made, others have been given to me by dear friends; there are reminders of the anticipation of two little boys choosing just the right ornament for this year’s tree, one says 1982 and another is from a little girl I taught in Sunday School, years ago.  My tree won’t make it on a Christmas Card; the ornaments were hung through happy tears and the only oohs and ahhs I will receive are from my grandbabies that are still young enough to appreciate a tree decorated with love.

Now we come to the true meaning of Christmas in the heart of all Believers.  I’m sure Mary would have loved to have given birth in elegant surroundings or at least a much more sanitary place.  She may have dreamed of swaddling her baby in soft, hand-woven blankets and placing him in the cradle, lovingly crafted by Joseph.  The family would gather and ooh and ahh at the beauty of this special child, showering him with gifts to mark this glorious day.  But reality changed everything.  Luke 2:6-7 describes the scene, ⁶ So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  The smelly stable, rough-hewn manger and animal sounds were not what she had envisioned. Instead of a loving family, Jesus was greeted by shepherds and angels and a special star to light the night.

Your life may seem a little lopsided, the ornaments may not be placed perfectly and you may even have a burned-out strand of lights hidden among the branches, but God thinks you are beautiful.  He oohs and ahhs when He sees you because He doesn’t look for elegance and perfection as a place to dwell.  God searches for the little star that others would toss aside and He hangs it in a prominent place on His Tree of Life because it is decorated with love.

IT'S OK, TWO WHEELS ARE ON DRY GROUND

This morning there was the first, of the season, visible, measurable, sprinkling of snow on the ground.  With a steaming cup of coffee and nowhere to go, it really was a beautiful scene; just don’t expect me to drive in it unless there is a real emergency.  My friends and family are well aware of my aversion to driving or traveling on icy, snow-covered roads.  Living in the north, all my life, I have experienced my share of skids, spin-outs, slide offs and accidents due to badly plowed roads and in-a-hurry drivers.  I know I make my sweet husband crazy by my constant reminders of “be careful,” “aren’t you going a little too fast,” “it looks slick up there,” etc.  He has learned how to pretty much just “tune out” everything he doesn’t want to hear but sometimes his exasperation at me explodes.  Several years ago, we were traveling to the northern Michigan town of Gaylord to attend a church fellowship meeting.  It was winter, snowy and the highway was not plowed to my satisfaction.  My never ending warnings and muttering, “Jesus” under my breath finally got on his last nerve; probably because he was trying to concentrate on not going in the ditch.  Without taking his eyes off the road (thank God) he very loudly said words in which I have often found great comfort and have never forgotten. “SUSAN,” he said, “It’s ok, two wheels are on dry pavement.”

Our life is made up of interlocking seasons that sometimes morph into the next before we are prepared for the change.  One morning you wake up and notice a chill in the air, the vibrant green areas are frosted with snow and the trees are bare of fruit and leaves; winter has arrived.  Winter is not one of the seasons of life for which we yearn. It is a season of dormancy, in which we see little or no growth in our relationship with God.  It is a time of leanness and barrenness in our soul as we watch the greenness dry and wither.  It seems that when you try to keep pushing ahead on the path, you hit a slick spot and sometimes even spin-out and slide off into the ditch.  The temptation is to grab a hot cup of coffee and hunker down in safety until spring, but God has some good things planned, even for winter.  In Job 38:22 God asks Job, “Have you entered into the treasures of the snow?”  The snow falls in nature and in our life for a purpose and God provides “treasure in the snow.”

If you are in a season of winter, stand still when you must but when God says let’s go, move forward with the assurance, “it’s ok, two wheels are on dry pavement.”  God has never had a spin-out or slid off into the ditch.  He has 20/20 vision, even during blizzard conditions and a “white-out.”  He is a “SURE FOUNDATION,” a “STRONG TOWER,” and He is “ORDERING YOUR STEPS.”  When the icy winds blow, the snow piles high and your vision is limited, allow that “still small voice” to whisper words of peace, “it’s ok, two wheels are on dry pavement.”

HOW DO YOU SMELL?

Of course I love nice smelling things; I’m a woman!  We love the soft, velvety smell of a freshly bathed baby, the deep sexy scent of expensive perfume, a bouquet of flowers, citrusy-scented hand soaps and lotions, spicy candles and a just-showered husband.  After painting our master bathroom a beautiful Caribbean aqua, the hunt for accessories began.  Included in my cart of purchases was a beautiful, plug-in, wax-melter and vanilla wax cubes.  I couldn’t wait, of course, and soon my bathroom smelled so sweet.  It didn’t end there, the fragrance spread to the master bedroom and wafted down the stairway to the living room.  My home was filled with the smell of crushed vanilla bean.

Did you know that you are a diffuser of the fragrance of His knowledge; the fragrance of Christ among those who are perishing and being saved?   Oh yes you are!!!  I have never thought of myself as a sweet smelling representative of the aroma of God and I doubt if you have either, but look at the following verses.   2 Corinthians 2:14-15 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 

 The fragrance you leave after meeting with unbelievers just may form their view of God.  Do you fill the room with the sweet odors of love and forgiveness or do the musty smells of superiority and condemnation linger as you exit the room?  Is it the promise of joy and peace that draws them to God or does the stale air of defeat and fear continue to overpower the atmosphere?  Does your aroma smell of hope or carry the stench of despair?   As Believers, there should be a lovely fragrance trailing us, as we walk through the room.  The refreshing aroma of hope and love should not only fill the room we are in, but waft through the whole house and leave a lingering, pleasant scent long after we are gone.

I raised 2 boys, so I know about sports-smells, outdoor-smells, clean showered-smells and pre-date aftershave smells; quick underarm whiffs and "cupping your hand around your mouth and nose, fresh-breath" sniffs.  Maybe it is time the Followers of Christ take a quick sniff to catch a whiff of our personal aroma.  Check yourself!!!   If there is no sweet smelling savor; if your space is beginning to smell a little dank and stale, it is time for a bath!  Soak awhile in His presence; allow the Holy Spirit to baptize you afresh and infuse you with His fragrance so that you can diffuse the fragrance of Christ among those being saved and those who are perishing.

A COMRADE HAS FALLEN

This blog was written and posted at the beginning of 2013.  As I reread and prepare to repost it, I am saddened by thoughts of those who have fallen since the original posting.  We are in a fight for souls and we cannot passively sit by or we will lose ground. The Church is not just DEFENDING territory we are marching forth to CONQUER and POSSESS territory.  THIS IS WAR!!!

Our country has been fighting the war against terror on foreign soil for over 10 years.  During that time we have sustained many casualties. Men and women have come home wounded and some have lost their life, defending our desire to live in a land free from terrorist attacks.  When a comrade has fallen, our elite military forces live by the motto, “Leave No Man Behind!”   The unit will do everything possible to rescue the injured or recover the body of their fellow soldier.  As one of these brave men stated, “American soldiers do not abandon their dead and wounded on the battlefield.”

WHAT ABOUT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD’S ARMY?  I enlisted in this army 47 years ago.  During that time I have been involved in many battles.  Every battle has not been successful but as I look back at the territory we’ve gained, I can say we are WINNING THE WAR!!!  I ask the next question with sadness and tears falling down my face, “What about our comrades that have fallen?”  So many have fallen, been wounded and left to die on the battlefield.  What have I done?  Have I watched them fall as I fought on; mourned their passing as I nursed my own wounds?  Have I callously just called them a “casualty of war,” judging that they should have been stronger, better equipped, or fought just a little harder?  How many could have been saved if I had risked all, in the heat of the battle, to reach down, take them by the hand and pull that brother or sister back to safety?  I think of the many times in my life, when a fellow soldier has wrapped their arms around me, given me a shoulder to lean on or an encouraging word in the middle of my heaviest battle; can I do any less?

We are led by a General who shed His precious blood; gave His life, that we might win the war. The Church must be brave, we must fight valiantly, but we cannot leave our own on the enemy’s battlefield.   There are brothers and sisters who have fallen, some have grown weary in the battle, others are wounded and dying; will you; will I risk my own comfort, position, even reputation to bring them home?   Our motto must be, “God’s soldiers do not abandon their dead and wounded on the battlefield.”

THE HARBINGER DECODED - REVIEW

I discovered Jonathan Cahn and his bestselling book, The Harbinger, in early 2012.  It was a fascinating read and one I found hard to put down.  Since that time I have shared the book with my husband, friends, family and church friends. I was brought to tears listening to Rabbi Cahn’s address at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast and again at the 9/11 Day of Remembrance Prayer Service.  I believe that as a Jewish believer in Jesus Christ, Rabbi Cahn has a special insight into Old Testament scripture and has been especially anointed by God to bring a message of warning to other believers in this very hour.

The Harbinger Decoded video is a compilation of the highlights of his book, The Harbinger.  It gives the viewer a condensed version of each of the  harbingers contained in the book, their meaning and the parallels between the Old Testament warning of judgment on Israel and the modern warning of judgment on the United States that began with the terrorist attack of 9/11.  I believe as Rabbi Cahn states that God gives warnings to His people to draw them to repentance and back into right relationship with Him.  As he states, it is up to God’s people to humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways; only then can America experience the revival that God desires to pour out on His people. 

I recommend buying both The Harbinger Decoded and The Harbinger; read them and pass them on.

WORRY? I'M GOING TO SLEEP!

So many times as I read the Word of God, my inadequacies become glaring obvious.  As I read of the perseverance of the “Heroes of Faith,” I find my own steadfastness sorely lacking.  Then as I begin to dig a little deeper and study a little more, I begin to understand they were all imperfect people just like me and together we serve a PERFECT GOD, who is ready to reach down, wrap His everlasting arms around us, set us on a solid rock and is always faithful.   David is such a wonderful example of an imperfect servant of our perfect God and wasn’t afraid to reveal all of his wart, bumps, bruises and scars.  He understood life wasn’t really about his failures but about God’s faithfulness.

In Psalms 3:1-2, David writes, “O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.  ² Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.” Have you ever felt like David?  I have.  Sometimes it seems that you don’t have a friend in the world that really believes in you.  David’s adversaries didn’t even believe that God would come through for him.  Makes you just want to shrivel up and die, doesn’t it?  But David doesn’t stop there, because he had a faith in God and a history with God that could lift him above what anyone thought or was saying about him.  In verse 3, David refutes everything his enemies are bringing against him; “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.”  David wasn’t king because of his strength, military prowess or even by birth, it was God who had positioned him to be king, God who “lifted his head” and all the glory belonged to God.  Rise up against him; say whatever you think, David was confident in the relationship that existed between him and God.

 You see, to David it wasn’t just KNOWLEDGE that God was faithful; it was a deeply rooted truth, he had experienced from his youth.  What did David do with this knowledge?  Verse 5 tells us, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.”  Don’t you just love it?  As Alfred E. Neuman puts it, “What, me Worry?”  With his knowledge and confidence in God’s faithfulness, David took his worries and fears, put them in the Lord’s capable hands and went to sleep. 

Oh to have that kind of faith and assurance that “If God is for me, who can be against me.”  Most times we pull  out all the darts Satan is throwing at us, ask God for help, try to figure out how to soothe the wounds and then wait for the perfect opportunity to throw the darts right back.  If it feels like everything is against you and there is a widespread belief that even God can’t come through for you on this one, reach way back and pull out your history.  God hasn’t changed!!! Just as He has many times before, He will come through for you.  He is your Shield, your Glory, and the Lifter of Your Head.  Step 2…Lay down; go to sleep and wake up refreshed for the Lord will sustain you.  Be confident in God’s great love and the relationship you have built with Him.  Along with David you can say, “Worry?  I’m going to sleep!”